CAIS Special Advance Payment
for Cows and Ruminants

News Releases

• Sept. 30, 2004 - CAIS Deadlines Extended
• Sept. 21, 2004 - BC Government Supports $30 M Advance Payment for Ranchers

The federal minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in his September 10, 2004 press release "Government Announces Strategy to Reposition Canada's Livestock Industry" included a strategy on cash flow and liquidity issues faced by producers.

Cash flow and liquidity issues will be addressed through a special accelerated cash advance under the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program. The advance will provide assistance for breeding cows and other specified ruminants.

British Columbia is in full agreement with this CAIS Special Advance and has requested the CAIS administration in Winnipeg deliver the payment.

The Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program is designed to help producers protect their farming operations from both small and large drops in income. The CAIS Special Advance is for producers owning breeding cows and other specified ruminants affected by BSE who wish to receive 2004 program year assistance earlier than normally available.

As a program participant, a producer cannot receive a full CAIS payment until their 2004 tax information is reported. However, through the CAIS Special Advance they can receive an advance on government contributions based on a fixed amount per eligible breeding female (animals that had birthed) that were owned by the participant as of December 23, 2003.

The initial launch of the CAIS Special Advance will be directed at participants in the Transitional Industry Support Program - Direct payment and will be based on the reported inventories. These participants will be mailed a program advice and payment authorization letter.

The amount available to each participant will be calculated using the following per head rates of payment:

In order to access funds under the CAIS Special Advance, a signed authorization must be returned by March 1, 2005.

For producers who did not apply to the Transitional Industry Support Program - Direct Payment, application forms to apply for the CAIS Special Advance are available on the CAIS web site at:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/caisprogram/docs/pdf/2004/cais04specialadvance.pdf.

Ministry of Agriculture and Lands staff are available to help farmers and ranchers with CAIS program applications. See the schedule of producer workshops at http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/rm/acct_session.htm